Flue cleaning device



Feb, 21, 1933. H, L MATT 1,898,596

.FLUE CLEANING DEVICE Filed June 25, 1931 Patented Feb. 21, 1933 iJNrrsny STATES 'PATENT OFFICE HOWARD I. PIATT, OF LANSING, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO MOTOR/'WHEEL CORPORA- if,

. TION, OF LANSING, MICHIGAN, d-.CORPORATION F yIVIICI-IIGJLN' .l

ELUE CLEANING DEVICE Application mea June a5, 193,1. Vserial No; 546,836.Y

My invention relates to the cleaning of ilues of heating furnaces, and is herein set forth as applied to water heaters, although obviously applicable to other types.

' 5' Where the products of combustion pass through constricted passages, particularly where the walls of such passages are cooled by an adjacent body of water, there is a decided tendency to deposit soot on the walls,

10 -vand this cooling acts as an insulating medium often neglected with decided loss in elfi-v ciency.

In order to clarify a description of the invention, embodiments of the same as adapted to varying iue arrangements are setforth in a schematic manner by way of illustration in the accompanying drawing wherein Y Fig. 1 is a vertical section on the line 1 1 of Fig. 2 through an arrangement adapted to tubular flues;

Fig. 2 is a topplan of Fig. 1 below the cover shell; n Y Fig. 3 is a view partly in elevation and, partly in vertical section through an adaptation tov an annular flue on the line 3-3 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is a top plan of Fig. 3 with the top shell removed; and

Fig. 5 is a vertical section through a slightly modified form of the device adapted to tubular flues.

Referring by way of example to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing there is indicated a heater shell 11 insulated at 12 furnishing a water space 13 traversed by a plurality of tubular flues 14. It is to be understood that the particular heater arrangements shown form no part of the present invention and are merely diagrammatic illustrations showing. the adaptability of the invention to some of. many types of heaters, whether employing as a fuel solid, liquid or other fuel.

Loosely suspended within the flues 14 are chains 15, the lower ends hanging loose in or below the lower ends of the flues,while ythe upper ends are attached to the arms 16 comprising a spider continuation ofa shaft 17 provided exteriorly of the Vheater with an operating handle-18. The head 19 of the shaft from which the arms 16'eXtend maybe pivoted to or rest loosely upon a support 20 within the furnace.

The device is operated to clean the iues of accumulated soot by grasping the handle 18 and oscillating the 'same so as to agitate the chains both longitudinally and laterally within the flues thus 'causing the same to strike and rub against the walls and dislodge the soot.

Having reference to Figs. 3 and 4, atype of furnace isshown in which the shell 21 enlcloses a'boiler 22-with an intervening annular flue space 23. Here a plurality lof chains 24,

are lsuspendedfrom the arms25 forming a spider as a continuation of the shaft 26 provided with a handle 27, the shaft 26 being advantageously journaled in a footstep bearing 28 to permit the same to be rotated through a complete circle or oscillated. yHere the chains 24'rest against the inner wall'of the flue separating it from the body of water in the boiler, where the soot is most likely to collect and is most disadvantageous as formf,

ing an insulating medium. n

In Fig. 5 a further embodiment is shown as applied to tubular Aflues within a body of .water 29 protected by the insulationBO in the between the chain links and the flue walls whereby to discharge the soot throughout their extent. 'i

, It will be understoodthat the inventionr is susceptible `of modification within a `wide 4range without sacrificing the true spiritk of theinvention, such, for instance, as a diiferent .of the conventional link chains here ill'ustrated; the gist of the invention residing in the free suspension of flexible members within the Hues and means for agitating the same in such manner as to cause wiping contact with the Hue surfaces. By the term Hue is included any passageway for the gases of combustion.

I claim:

1. The combination with a heater including Hues, of means for cleaning said Hues comprising a Hexible element suspended loosely in each of the Hues to becleaned, and means exteriorly operable to agitate thersaid cleaning elements both longitudinally and laterally whereby to cause the same to strike and rub against the H'ue walls.Y Y

Y2. The combination with a heater including vertical tubular Hues, of means for cleaning saidv Hues comprising a flexible element suspended loosely in each of the Hues to be cleaned, and means eXteriorly operable to agitate the said cleaning elements both longitudinally and laterally whereby to cause the same to strike and rub against the Hue walls.

3. The combination with a-heater including Hues, of means for cleaning said Hues comprising a HeXible,` element suspended loosely in each of the Hues to be cleaned, and means exteriorly operable to agitate the said cleaning elements both longitudinally and laterally wherebyto cause the same to strike and rub against the Hue walls, said operating means including a shaft connected to each of the HeXible elements and a handle for actuating the shaft.

4. The combination with a heater including Hues, of means for cleaning said Hues comprising a Hexible element suspended loosely in each of the Hues to be cleaned, and means exteriorly operable tol agitate the said cleaning elements both longitudinally and laterally whereby to cause the same to strike and rub against the Hue walls, said operating means including a shaft carrying a spider connected to each of the chains and-a handle disposed outside the heatershell for agitating the shaft. Y Y

5. The combination with a heater including vertical Hues, of means for cleaning said Hues comprising a chain loosely suspended in each of the Hues to be cleaned and means eX- teriorly operable to agitato the chain both longitudinally and laterally whereby to cause the same to strike and rub against the Hue walls.

6. The combination with a heater including vertical Hues, of means for cleaning said Hues comprising a chain loosely suspended in each of the Hues to be cleaned and means exteriorly operable to agitate the chain both disposed outside the heater'shell for agitating the shaft.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

Howl/inn vr. PIATT. 

